Valve



y 4, 1937. A. G. HANN 2,079,348

VALVE Original Filed Jan. 29, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVIgTgZ BY @ATTQR Y May 4, 1937. v A. G. HANN 2,079,348

VALVE Original Filed Jan. 29, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 III can:

BY I

16;, MT NEY Patented May 4, V 1937 PATENT OFFICE VALVE Albert G. Hann, Detroit, Mich, assignor to Detroit Lubricator Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Original application January 29,, 1935, Serial No. 3,905. Divided and this application May 10,

1935, Serial No. 20,724

11 Claims.

My invention relates generally to valves and more particularly to valves for controlling the flow of a liquid and which is particularly adapted for a gravity feed control device as is fully disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 3,905, filed January 29, 1935, of which this is a division.

One of the objects of my invention is to'provide a new and improved manually operable valve for cooperating with a valve port to control flow of a liquid therethrough and to provide a valve of this character which can be quickly moved from closed or intermediate position to a maximum open position to quickly obtain a maximum flow through the port.

Another object of my invention is to provide a new and improved valve adjusting means which will prevent a user from setting the valve in a position which would permit a larger flow capacity through the valve port than desired from a safety standpoint during normal operation, but one which will permit instant movement of the valve to a position which will permit maximum flow through the port on occasions when desired.

A further object of my invention is to provide a new and improved valve adjusting mechanism for varying the position of an outlet valve relative to its seat and one so constructed and arranged as to permit the 'valve to be readily employed as a plunger for priming and discharging liquid under pressure through the valve port and for removing air bubbles from the fuel line.

The invention consists in the improved construction and combination of parts, to be more fully described hereinafter and the novelty of which will be particularly pointed out and dis tinctly claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, to be taken as a part of this specification, I have fully and clearly illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, in which drawings- Fig. 1 is a view of a heating apparatus employing a gravity feed control device embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the control device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view shown in sideelevation of the control device having a portion of its casing broken away to show my improved valve and valve adjusting means associated therewith;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary endview partly broken away and in section to show the valve and its cooperating parts, and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view shown in crosssection, similar to Fig. 4, showing the valve in another position.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Fig. 1, there is shown a control device,

designated in general by the numeral 1, having among other uses the controlling of the flow of oil by gravity from a reservoir tank 2 to an oil burning furnace 3. The control device is in communication with the oil burner through the conduit or pipe 3 The control device is arranged in the oil line between the tank 2 and the furnace 3 for maintaining a predetermined substantially constant flow of oil to the burner, regardless of the quantity of oil in the tank, and this control device includes a substantially rectangular shaped casing 4 having a substantially rectangular shaped chamber 5 in which the level of the oil, or any other liquid, is maintained at a predetermined substantially constant level by control mechanism (not shown). In this control device, the casing has an open upper side through which access may be had to the interior thereof and which is normally closed by a cover 5, constituting the top wall of the casing and of chamber .5, and which is'secured to the casing by screws 1. The control device is shown mounted on the furnace wall by a bracket 8 and in a manner so that oil will flow by gravity from chamber 5 to the oil burner. In the present control device, the casing 4 has a second chamber Ill located beneath chamber 5 and into which the oil first flows and wherein it is filtered by a strainer II before entering chamber 5 through a communicating passageway 12. The admittance of the oil into chamber 5, through passageway i 2, is controlled by the mechanism above mentioned, but not shown, to maintain a substantially constant level in chamber 5.

In the present disclosure, the control device has two outlet valve structures for accommodating two burners, but since these valves are the same in structure and operation, a description of one is deemed sufficient. Referring to Figs. 4 and 5 in which views one of the valve structures is shown in detail, the valve structure is preferably located at one side of the casing and includes a valve chamber, the wall means I5 of which may be, as shown, an integral part of the casing, if desired. The wall means l5 extends vertically upward within the chamber 5, and the top portion 16 is preferably tubular in form. The valve chamber includes a relatively large vertically extending bore H in the upper portion thereof, for receiving the valve stem l8, which valve stem is relatively smaller than the bore so that there is a space 20 surrounding the valve stem and into which oil enters through an aperture 2| from chamber 5. Preferably the aperture 2| is in the form of a slot extending from the top of the wall means l5 to a point adjacent the bottom wall of chamber 5. The relatively large bore also extends to a point adjacent the bottom wall of chamber 5, at which point a relatively small bore 22 concentric with bore provides an upwardly facing seat 23 for the beveled face 24 of the valve. A bore 25 is provided which extends from the bottom wall of the casing to a point adjacent bore 22 and which may be threaded to receive a threaded closure plug 21. A relatively smaller bore 28, serving as the valve port, connects bores 22 and 26 and slidably receives the lower end portion of v the valve which is diametrically reduced, as at 29, to slidably fit the same. Thus, annular chambers 30 and 3|, Fig. 4, are provided between the reduced diametrical portion 29 and the walls of the bores 22 and 26 respectively.

The valve stem is provided with a central longitudinally extending bore 33 which opens through the lower end of the reduced portion 29 and extends therefrom to a point well above the level of the oil in chamber 5, at which point it is in open communication through laterally extending apertures 34 with chamber 5 to permit the escape of gases which may form in the valve chamber and oil line. Bore 26 is in open communication with outlet port 35 through a laterally extending passageway 36, and extending vertically upward from the outlet port 35 and to a point 6 above the constant liquid level is a passageway valve to an apex adjacent the conical portion 24 thereof. Oil enters the space or chamber. 20 through passageway 2| and when the valve is raised from its seat, as shown in Fig. 5, the oil enters annular chamber 30, The oil then passes through .the.V -shaped.opening to the ,bore 33 and th'enint'o, chamber 30 from which it passesto the outlet 35through passageway 36. It will be' seen that when the. valve is raised from its seat and more .ofthe V-shaped opening, below .the apex, is in bore. 22,.a larger quantity of oil will be permittedto pass to the outlet 35.

When the flame of an oil burner has been extinguished or the oil burner has been operating with a low flame, and a high flame is instantly 'desired, it is also necessary that a comparatively large quantity of oil must be instantly delivered to the burner. To this end I provide an outlet valve structure, the valve l8 of which is slidably disposed in its valve chamber so that it may be slidably withdrawn to immediately open -the valve to maximum open position and also so that it can beemployed as a pump plunger to pump oil. to the burner. To accomplish this I provide cam means for vertically adjusting the valve l8 relative to its seat, and in the present structure the cam face is formed on the tubularshaped top edge of the valve chamber wall means, as at 40.

On the valve stem l8 and within chamber 5 is carried a cam follower 4|, the follower shown being in the form of a tubular sleeve member having a central aperture for receiving the valve stem 8. The follower 4| includes a downwardly extending portion or lug 42, the lower edge of which is in the same vertical plane as the cam face 49 for engagement therewith, and if desired the lug 42 may be an integral part of the wall of the sleeve member, as shown. A coil spring 43 surrounds the valve stem I8 and is held under compression between the cam follower 4| and the underside of the cover 6 to resiliently maintain contact between the follower and the cam when they are in engagement and to urge the valve against its seat 23 when the follower 4| and cam 4|] are not in engagement. It will also be seen that upon closing rotation of the valve l8, the spring 43 aids to move the valve toward its seat. The slot 2| extending through the upper end of the valve housing l5 provides a break or opening in the otherwise continuous cam face 40 and preferably the slot 2| is located relative to the cam face 40 so as to provide a space between the highest and lowest points thereon. One side face of the slot 2 I, as indicated at 44, Fig. 5, extends higher than the other and cooperates with the lug 42 to provide a stop. The cam follower 4| is preferably located at a point on the valve stem I8 such that when the lug 42 of the cam follower 4| is in engagement with the side edge of the slot 2|, the valve will be seated or in closed position. In this position, the cam follower lug 42 overlies the slot 2| and accordingly is not in engagement with the cam face 40 so that the valve is free to seat and is aided to seat properly by the spring 43.

Upon rotating the valve stem l8 in one direction, the cam follower climbs the spiral cam,

compressing the spring 43 and lifting the valve l8 away from its seat, thus opening the valve port 28 to permit an increase of the quantity of liquid flowing through outlet 35, whereas rotation in the opposite direction from closed position is prevented by engagement of the lug 42 with the side face 44 of slot 2|. Preferably the vertical distance between the lowest point on the cam face 40 to the highest is such that when the. lug 42 rests on the highest point of the cam, the valve is not in maximum open position, but is rather in a position to permit the largest regulated uantity of oil flow to the burner and the resultant highest flame without danger of injury to the burner. It.will be'seen'that the valve I8, by"- reason of theicamadjustment, cannot be set in maximum open position, as is possiblewhen a valve is threaded for adjusting it, for if the valve is rotated beyond the high point of the cam it will fall down to closed position. However, it is desirable when the burner flame has been extinguished or has been operating at low or pilot flame to be able to open the valve to maximum open position, that is, to a position such that oil will flow unobstructed by the valve and be determined only by outlet port capacity, until such time as regular uniform flow through the oil line bubbles interfere with the establishing of a uniform flow of oil to the burner when an increase in flow is desired. In addition, when the'outlet valve is closed so that oil ceases to flow through pipe 3 or when only a small quantity of oil is passing through pipe 3*, air collects therein between the burner stand pipe and the outlet port 35 with the result that this air resists the passage of oil through the line 3 when it is desired to obtain a high flame.

One of the advantages of the present valve outlet structure is that the valve I 8 may be reciprocated as a pump plunger in its housing and agitate the oil in the line to the burner to dispel the gas bubbles formed therein and to, aid the oil in pushing the air in line 3 through to the burner. The gas from the bubbles that adhered to the wall of the portion of pipe 3 that inclines downwardly from the burner will tend to rise to the burner and escape therethrough and will be aided in doing so by the increased volume of oil flow through pipe 3 when the valve I8 is reciprocated, while the bubbles that adhered to the wall of pipe 3 adjacent the control device and those bubbles that adhered to the walls of the passageways of the control device casing, willtend to rise in passageways 31 and 33 and escape to the atmosphere above the level of the liquid in chamber 5.

The cover 6 is preferably formed with an upwardlyextending tubular portion 48 concentric with the valve stem l8 and through which the valve stem extends and projects externally of the casing. A handle 49 is provided for manually operating the valve and may be fixed to the upper end of the valve stem l8, such as by a nut 50, or in any other suitable manner. The upwardly extending tubular member 48 is externally threaded for engagement with a nut 5| and between the nut 5| and the top of the cover 6 is clamped a stop member 52 and a second stop member 53,

"the stop members having aligned apertures for receiving the tubular member 48. The handle 49 is formed with a downwardly extending portion 54 forengaging the stop members 52 and 53. The stop members are preferably individual platelike members having upturned portions for engagement by the downwardly extending handle portion 54.

The stop member 52, which may be termed the minimum stop member, is positioned such that when the handle portion 54 is in contact therewith the valve is opened sufiiciently topermit a quantity of oil to flow to the burner suflicient to maintain a low flame or pilot light. The stop member 53, or maximum stop, is positioned such that when'the handle portion 54 is in engagement therewith a desired maximum oil flow is permitted to pass to the burner. It will be understood that for different installations the desired positions of the stop members will vary so that an installation workman will position the stops in accordance with the conditions of a particular installation. If after the stops have been properly positioned for a particular installation, the user should relocate the maximum stop in an efiort to obtain a higher flame, it will be seen that the highest flame he could obtain would be when the stop 53 .is positioned so that the valve may be rotated until the follower rests on the highest point of the cam 40 for beyond this, thecam follower 42 would drop down to closed position.

The minimum stop 52 is formed with an upwardly extending flange portion which preferably extends to a point slightly above the lower end of the handle portion 54. To move the valve l8 to closed position, which position is shown in 1 Figs. 3 and 4, the valve is first'lifted until the lower end of the handle portion 54 clears the upwardly extending contact portion 55 of the minimum stop 52 after which it may be rotated, in a clockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 2, until it is beyond the contact member 55 after which it may be lowered and rotated until stopped by the engagement of the lug 42 with the side wall of slot 2|. The maximum stop member 53 is provided with an upwardly extending flange 56 having a horizontally disposed portion 51 extending inwardly toward the valve stem l8 for engaging the downwardly extending portion 54 of the handie 49.

The operation of the valve is as follows:

It will be understood that the rate at which oil enters chamber 5 depends upon the rate at which oil is leaving the outlet port 35. When the handle 49 for manually operating the outlet valve I8 is in the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the valve port is closed so that no oil flows therefrom and the lug 42 of the cam follower is in engagement with the stop or side wall of the slot 2|. To open the valve port, the valve [8 is first lifted, by means of the handle 49, until the lower end of the portion 54 of the handle clears the portion 55 of the minimum stop 52 after which it is rotated and loweredfor rotation between the minimum and maximum stops. This arrangement provides for a positive shut-off of fiow from the valve port while yet having a minimum stop position of the valve for setting the same to obtain a desired low flame or pilot light. The maximum stop limits rotatable movement of the valve in a valve opening direction and, from the standpoint of safety, prevents a user from obtaining a high flame which might cause damage to his heating plant and other resultant damage. The valve and its cooperating adjusting mechanism, however, permit raising of the valve rectilinearly and its employment as a plunger or pump for pumping oil to the burner and dispelling any air bubbles which might have collected in the oil line.

In addition to the above mentioned advantages of my valve structure and its adjusting means, it will be seen that the valve may be readily removed from the casing in the event repairs or replacement of parts becomes necessary and may be removed with its supporting means as a unitary structure, which supporting means may be, as in this instance,'the cover of the casing after removal of which access may be had to the interior of the casing. In the present instance, the valve, spring and stops are all carried by the cover 6 so that after removal of the screws I the cover and parts carried thereby may be removed as a unitary structure.

While I have herein described in some detail a specific embodiment of my invention, which I deem'to be new and advantageous and may specifically claim, I do not desire it to be understood that my invention is limited to an outlet valve of a gravity feed control device nor to the exact details of its construction, for it will be apparent that my valve structure could be utilized with other structures or as an inlet valve and that changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit or scope of my inmeans surrounding said valve stem and extending upwardly into said chamber to a point between the top and bottom walls thereof, said wall means having its upper edge terminating in a spiral cam surface, a cam follower fixed to said valve stem and having a longitudinally extending portion for engaging said cam surface so that axial movement of the valve relative to its seat can be had by rotating the valve, and resilient means yieldingly urging said follower against said cam, said portion having lateral engagement with aid wall means on movement of said valve in one direction to limit movement of said valve in said one direction.

2. In a device of the character described, a casing having a chamber for liquid and a valve port therefor, wall means providing a valve chamber, said wall means having an aperture therethrough establishing communication with said first-named chamber, a valve guided by and controlling said port and including a stem portion, said valve being axially slidably movable in 'said valve chamber, said wall means projecting upwardly into said first-named chamber and surrounding said stem portion in close proximity thereto, a cam associated with the wall of said valve chamber, and a cam follower fixed to said valve stem and engaging said cam to vary the position of the valve relative to its seat.

3. A valve comprising, means providing a substantially vertically extending valve port, a valve member controlling flow through said port, said valve member being rectilinearly movable relative to said port, wall means surrounding said valve member in close proximity thereto providing a valve chamber within said first-named chamber, said valve chamber having an opening leading thereinto from said first-named chamber and located above said valve port, a cam associated with said valve member and formed on the upper end of said wall means, and a cam follower carried by said valve member for engaging said cam whereby the valve may be set in any position relative to said port within the corresponding range of said cam.

4. A valve comprising, means providing a valve port, a valve member having a stem portion andcontrolling said port, wall means surrounding said valve stem in close proximityv thereto and extending upwardly to a point intermediate its ends providing a valve chamber, said valve member being rectilinearly movable relative to said port, a cam having a bearing surface associated with and surrounding said stem portion, said cam being formed on the upper end of said wall means, said wall means having a vertically extending slot running out at said cam surface, and a cam follower carried by said valve member for engaging said cam surface whereby the valve member can also be moved relative to said port to change the flow capacity of said port by rotating said valve member and can be set at any position relative to said port within the corresponding range of said cam, said slot constituting' the inlet to said valve chamber with a wall defining said slot being engageable with said cam follower to limit rotation of said valve member in one direction.

5. In a device of the character described, a casing having a port and a valve chamber around said port within said casing, a cover for said casing, said valve chamber having an open upper end disposed toward said cover, a rotatable and rectilinearly movable valve member in said chamber controlling flow through said port and carried by said cover, a cam associated with and surrounding said valve member, said cam being formed on the upper end of said valve chamber,

and a cam follower carried by said valve memmember being rotatably movable with said cam and cam follower cooperating to obtain a gradual movement of said valve member relative to said port to effect a desired regulated flow of fuel to the burner, said valve member being recilinearly movable from a closed position to move quickly away from said port to obtain a greater flow for flooding the burner, said cam having a high point determining the maximum flow regulating position of said valve member, and spring means opposing movement of said valve member in an opening direction. I

7. A device for controlling the flow of fuel to a burner comprising a casing having a chamber for liquid fuel, wall means in said chamber and providing a valve chamber, said valve chamber having an outlet port, a valve member in said valve chamber for controlling said port, said wall means surrounding said valve member in close proximity thereto, a cam surface formed on the upper end of said wall means and surrounding said valve member, a cam follower carried by said valve member and cooperable with said cam surface, a substantially vertically extending slot in said wall means providing communi- 'cation between said first-named chamber and said valve chamber, said slot running out at the highest point on said cam surface with the lower end of said slot being disposed above the lower endof said valve member when said valve member is in closed position, said valve member being in closed position when said follower member overlies said slot, said valve member upon prising a casing containing a reservoir, a housingproviding a valve chamber and having a vertical slot in its side wall establishing an inlet from said reservoir to said chamber, said housing having a port, a valve member reciprocal in said housing and controlling said port, the wall of said housing having a spiral cam surface starting and terminating at said slot, and a cam member carried by said valve member and cooperable with said surface.-

9. A device of the character described, com-- prising a casing containing a reservoir having an I outlet port, a cover member for said casing having an aperture aligned with said port, a valve 5 therethrough for flow from said reservoir to said port, said wall terminating in a spiral cam surface, a cam member carried by said valve member and resting on said surface so that said valve member will be moved longitudinally upon rotation, and a spring holding said cam member in engagement with said surface.

10. A device for controlling the flow of fuel to a burner comprising wall means providing a valve chamber having an outlet port, a movable valve within said valve chamber for controlling said outlet port, a cam member having a spiral cam surface, a cam engaging member, one of said members being carried by said valve and movable therewith relative to the other of said members, said valve being rotatably movable, said cam member and said engaging member cooperating to obtain a gradual movement of said valve relative to said port to effect a desired regulated flow of fuel to the burner, said valve beingrectilineal- Ly movable from a closed position to move quickly away from said port to obtain a greater flow for flooding the burner, said cam surface having a high point determining the maximum flow regu-v lating position of said valve, and spring means opposing movement of said valve in an opening direction.

11. In a control device for controlling flow of liquid fuel to a burner, a casing having a reservoir chamber for the liquid fuel and having a bottom wall provided with an integral upwardly extending tubular wall means within said reservoir chamber, said tubular wall means defining a valve chamber having an outlet port and an opening communicating vwith said reservoir 5 chamber, said casing having a top wall provided with an opening therethrough, a removable closure means closing said opening and having an aperture therethrough overlying said valve chamber, a rotatable and rectilineally movable 10 valve in said valve chamber and guided by and controlling said outlet port, said valve having an upwardly extending stem extending through said aperture and projecting externally of said casing, manual means on the upper end of said 15 stem externally of said casing for rotating said valve and for moving said valve rectilineally, said valve and said manual means being carried by said closure means, a cam member having a cam surface, a cam engaging member cooperable with 20 said cam surface, one of said members being carried by said valve and movable therewith relative to the other of said members to obtain a gradual movement of the valve relative to said port to eifect a desired regulated flow of fuel to 25 the burner, said valve being rectilineally movable to move quickly away from said port to obtain a greater flow of fuel to the burner, and a coil spring surrounding said valve stem and held under compression between said closure means 30 and said one member and urging said one member against said other member.

ALBERT G. HANN. 

